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Cycling the length of mainland Britain in under six days would be beyond most
people, but a 45-year-old music teacher set off from Land’s End yesterday
hoping to smash the record for a double trip — to John O’Groats and back
again.

Chris Hopkinson, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, aims to beat the record for the
1,700-mile trip — which stands at 5 days, 21 hours and 8 minutes. The
challenge is known as “LeJogLe”.

Ben Rockett set the record in August 2010, burning an estimated 105,000
calories, covering 324.1 miles per day and sleeping for only 3½ hours a
night. Surviving mainly on bananas, chicken wraps and water, Mr Rockett lost
more than a stone in weight. The average time to cycle a single length of
Britain — when not making a record attempt — is from ten to 14 days.

Mr Hopkinson, who first took up cycling for his work commute when he was 31,
will be accompanied by a support team. He said that he was taking on the
challenge to prepare for the arduous 3,000-mile west-to-east Race Across
America (RAAM) this summer. He also hopes to raise awareness of the Royal
Signals Benevolent Fund for struggling members of the Royal Corps of Signals.

“People keep asking me why I am doing this,” said Mr Hopkinson, who has two
children and has been preparing for more than a year. “The answer is simple:
what better way is there to train for a 3,000-mile race?

“Mind you, the weather is going to be slightly different. We currently have
snow and strong winds which are expected to last, but I’m prepared. I just
hope the crew can stay warm.”

Spending on bicycles rose to more than £1.5 billion last year, while the
number of commuters cycling to work rose by 14 per cent to 762,334 between
2001 and 2011 as workers sought healthier and more affordable ways of
getting around.

Research by The Times, as part of the Cities Fit for Cycling campaign,
shows that the quality of cycle lanes are likely to vary enormously
throughout Mr Hopkinson’s journey, from safe and inviting cycle paths in
some areas to piecemeal and downright dangerous facilities in others.

Edmund King, president of the AA, told an inquiry into cycle safety this year
that: “There are too many cycle lanes that are piecemeal, that are an
afterthought, that lull cyclists into a false sense of security and lull
motorists into a false sense of security because they see cyclists in the
cycle lane and then it suddenly ends.”

Mr Hopkinson, who cycles with the Army Cycling Union, will raise money for the
Royal Signals Benevolent Fund. He has already won an endurance cycling event
in Florida this season, but will have to battle against headwinds and
extreme cold on the northward leg, forecasters have said.